Interpreting dreams

I’m feeling very philosophical today. I remember when I was quite young and my mother asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. My response was a little weird (hey – most of them are), but I told her I wanted to grow up to be a thinker – years later when I found out there were Philosophers in the world, I realised this was the profession I was looking for (and probably still am).

This twinge of my philosophical side must have emerged today because of a strange dream I had last night. I take careful note of my dreams because I often base my stories on them. Without going into too much detail – I was sitting on the side of a volcano that had been dormant for millions of years. It began to erupt and I could see the fire and smoke billowing into the sky above me. I knew there was a lot of danger to the position I was in and no escape, so I stayed to watch the awesomeness of it. It was one of those incredibly strong dreams – the type you know you have to remember. The fact that I’ve never had a volcano dream before makes this one extra interesting.

I’m figuring that my emotions are:

About to explode, or

Have already exploded, or

Exploding as we speak (not an attractive image).

Either way, I’m hoping this erupts in an artistic way and not a destructive way. Volcanoes renew as well as destroy so having never been a destructive person, I’m filled with hope.

The family side of life is a little stressful. Hubby is going in for a hernia op tomorrow and father-in-law is going in for biopsy on Thursday. Living so far from the city means long drives for me on these days to and from the hospital. Did I tell you I hate hospitals? No wonder I’m dreaming of volcanoes.

In the meantime, I’ve been working on my ***Arty Bits*** and here are two of my latest attempts.

I love the little darker flower dude standing out from the crowd on the left of the picture. I called thisDare To Be Different

The second one is simply calledReflection

Have you had any weird dreams lately – and are you able to interpret them?

I love trying to figure out my dreams as well. Some of them are so strong, I have to think I’ve had them for a reason (instead of the run-of-the-mill dreams). I’ve been dreaming so much and very vividly since living at the RUC – it’s amazing!

I do dream, but nothing quite as explosive as yours, Dianne. I wish your Hubby and father-in-law all the best, and hope you manage not to worry too much. Love both your arty bits. The purple is my favourite, as purple was Mom’s best-loved colour. 🙂

“so I stayed” — there you have it! I see it like this: the truth is more valuable to you than how you might feel about it. I think that’s a great place for a creative person to dwell in. Hope all else goes well!

Those words shone for me as well, Lourdes. So I stayed – I guess that’s part of my personality to never quit 😀 You’re so right about the truth being valuable – wow!
Thanks so much for coming by and reading and commenting xxx

beautiful! I love the arty bits. The dream, wow, that is an interesting one. I haven’t had any of my own (strong and different like that since I was having stress dreams for work!) Good luck with everything!

I love dreams… unless of course they are crazy peri-menopause too much stress do not make any sense at all dreams. These are best acknowledged and set aside. But the others are quite useful. It seems in your dream the feeling of it was important; you knew the best thing to do was let it unfold.
My brain has been a little too busy of late to generate helpful dreams. But last night I dreamed I was with some work colleagues travelling to, then attending an event which appeared to be my farewell, there were lovely set tables and a wrapped gift with my name on it (everything blue, the colour of communication)… but first we had to play some corporate challenge like games which were all set up. Yep, 1 week of notice period down, 5 to go!
Best wishes to you your hubby and father-in-law. You are the little purple flower 🙂

I had a big grin on my face when I read your comment about me being the little purple flower, because that’s exactly what I thought when I first saw it! 😀 (you know me too well) 😉

I love the ‘let it unfold’ comment because that is the feeling I had when I woke up. There are lot of things happening at the moment and I guess the best I can do is just sit back, watch, and let them all unfold as they were intended. There is no use for me trying to stop or control or even run from a volcano 😉

Only five weeks to go – wow, I’m so impressed. I remember how I felt when I left my job and moved to the RUC. Those last few weeks just couldn’t go fast enough and I had a constant smile on my face xxxx

If you had that dream just before you woke up, and retained the feeling then it’s most like a message dream, and a good one.
I commented to the G.O. last week that everything seems lighter & brighter. Friday was an ‘interesting’ day but those somebody else’s problems will really be someone else’s problems soon 🙂
I’ve never before seen or heard of purple jasmine… lovely.

I gave up trying to interpret my dreams beyond a cursory over-view a while back because some of them become just downright hilarious or flat out insane in their randomness. My dreams tend to be a mix of levity and simplicity and something out of a david cronenberg movie! 😀

Hope you feel better and the family’s tribulations all pass with relative ease – and that the volcano replenishes you and your world.

I went for about ten years without dreaming until last year. It was really weird. Now it’s all flooding in and sometimes they are really hard to ignore. I also get the stupid ones and I really wonder where they come from (or what the hell is going on inside my brain) 😉

I know that feeling well, experience and research has taught me that even academics who study the brain have only a limited understanding even now – so don’t read too much into it, your brain will do what it will. Just enjoy the ride and consider the dreams a good source for random ideas from hereon! 😀
Cheers!

I have vivid dreams occasionally but I am not very good at remembering them. Which, in a way, is good because they are not usually ones I want to remember. Best wishes for the medical events. Hope your husband is the patient type of patient who won’t stress you out by doing all the things he’s been told not to do. 🙂

I love the pictures Dianne. My guess would be that the volcano shows the stress you’re feeling at going to the hospitals this week and the worry it must be causing you. I have my fingers crossed everything goes well for your husband and father-in-law.
I’m lucky in that I rarely remember my dreams if I actually have any, it probably indicates a total lack of feelings in me..
Have the best week you can.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx

The purple flower is just so cute. It looks like it’s just popping in to say ‘hi’ 😀
Thanks so much for your kind thoughts about the menfolk – for some reason they seem to synchronize their illnesses! 😀

That’s so funny about your wanting to grow up to be a Thinker…luckily, you did. You are one of my favorite Philosophers in the world – and I must tell you I find your philosophies much more entertaining than Aristotle or Socrates.:)
Your art becomes more powerful with each post. I too love the one tiny darker color flower in the crowd of lusciousness. Sometimes daring to be different just happens!
I hope your husband does well in the hospital with a speedy recovery and comes home soon! I also will be thinking of all of your family during these difficult times. Waiting for biopsy news is never fun. Take care of yourself…enjoy your images…avoid volcanoes. I’ve heard they can be quite the mess when they erupt.

Haaaa – I love the words “they can be quite the mess when they erupt.” That gave me a good giggle this morning 😀

Thanks so much for your kind thoughts for the family. I drove hubby to the hospital this morning and if there is anything I hate more than hospitals, it’s driving though pouring rain. I hope it clears by the time I have to drive father-in-law in…

I think everyone has said it in previous comments darling, YOU’RE STRESSED! Ya poor love, with hubby and your FIL, let alone the travelling back and fro. Perhaps things have been calm of late and the volcano is just a small Insee winsee warning things make get a little more turbulent? Your photographs are gorgeous,the purple flowers are stunning. Hang in there lovely, banish those dreams and picture fields of flowers instead. I don’t E member my dreams, but I go to sleep planning them..and you think you’re weird! Hugs hun ❤️❤️ xx

I get that tug of philosophy. I spent some time studying the greats, as a way of helping myself solve problems. If I could just rationally think through what was going on, I could arrive at a solution. It got a lot easier when I came to realize problems rarely have just one solution, that it’s more important to follow through than think perfectly.

My dreams are manifestations of the people or incidents that torment me, and sometimes but rarely reflect something joyous. Once I calm down, I think about who or what is bothering me and then store it with all the rest that I can’t change or fix – yet. Usually I am lucky enough to forget the really awful ones. I have enough trouble living in this world and can’t linger in the other.
Wishing you rest and peace, Dianne, and may you sleep without dreams that you remember.

People who torment or vex are really hard to avoid sometimes, Sharon. And you’ve given me a thought. The volcano may actually be a person…
Hmmm, you’ve given me a lot to think about here. Thank you xxx

Lovely images! Thanks for sharing them, and peace and prayer to you and yours. As for the volcano, my youngest dreams of becoming a volcanologist. She is in Geology, so this is not beyond the realm of possibility. She can tell you more than I can about volcanoes, but I agree, they have a role to play in our ongoing cosmogony. All part of the birthing process, I think.

I would definitely vote for creative explosions. 🙂 It’s rare that I have truly vivid dream that I can remember, but the few I’ve had have stayed with me all my life. I’m just never sure what they really mean!

I used to keep a dream diary years ago because my dreams were so vivid, Francis. I think I’ll have to dig it out again now that they are returning. Your vote for creative explosions is definitely counted! 😀

I haven’t had great dreams lately, no surprise there. Generally speaking though, I don’t recall dreams. They’re so vivid in the moment, but upon waking, they fade away. I wonder why that is. Hoping for good stuff from that volcano dream!!

I find dreams that drift off like wisps of smoke quite annoying because I know that there was something important there and I just I can’t remember it.
Your dreams will get better, I’m sure xxxxhugsxxxx

I hope all the medical stuff turns out okay. That is an interesting dream. I’m certain I’m not cut out to be a philosopher…. philosophy was the only class I ever got a “c” in during college. If I dream, I rarely remember them. Too bad- I bet they’d be bizarre.

All the medical stuff has turned out very well, Janna. Just a few more trips to the hospital in the next few days, but all the ops are over and it’s all been very successful. Next week I think I’ll just relax on the writer’s nook 😀

I actually used to teach a dream workshop! I had attended a dream interpretation two-month session in Berkeley (CA) many years ago, and learned so much from it, that I decided to teach my own class in an adult ed program. It was a great success, but it scared me, because I felt like I was becoming a (non-licensed!) therapist. I stopped the class. But I write down and interpret my dreams often. They are a wonderful learning tool, as you know.
Best of luck with the volcanos in your life. I hope your husband’s surgery went well, and all will be good with your dad-in-law.

Thanks so much, Pam. All the operations went well and now the men of the house are resting and taking in all that home cooking and cups of tea 😉

I find it really interesting that you had a dream workshop – WOW, I’m very impressed. Have you ever thought of blogging about it? Someone told me to translate the word volcano into numbers and put them in a lotto ticket. I did that and won (not a great deal of money, but enough to make me smile and buy hubby and I a nice night out when he’s fully recovered). Of course this is a total coincidence, but I think it’s kind of cool! 😀

Hi Dianne! Dreams are so rich and compelling. Whilst I have no clue what a volcano means in a dream, your Arty Bits though are breaking out beautifully and dramatically:-). All the best to your hubby and father-in-law…*Hugs*

You know, now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve ever had a volcano dream either – that’s so cool that you did! I often try to remember my dreams, because I draw a lot of inspiration from them too. 🙂

I dream a great deal but I don’t try to interpret them. However, a dream about a volcano coupled with your current stresses seems to speak for itself. If you can turn it into something creative it will probably help put things in perspective. Oh, and your photos are gorgeous!

Loving those creations of yours Dianne – I even went ‘wow’ at the first of those. Dreams – do you know I was third in the Olympics 100m final, qualified for the 400m final (but woke up before the race) and played rugby for England, away to Venezuela, and scored a try. I blame cheese.

The smells of hospitals make me nauseated. I’m totally with you on that. And weird dreams can freak me out. The feelings from them linger, making them seem too real. But one night I dreamed an entire plot for a novel, and though I haven’t written it yet, I’ve made notes. It will be awesome once I figure out how to make it all seem sensible.

That’s really exciting, Renee, I love dreaming about stories, and an entire plot line? WOW! Unfortunately I haven’t written down the dreams I want to write about yet but they are still there in my mind 😀

I hope by now both hubby and father-in-law are well on the way to recovery. Wow, what an explosive dream. Must be something really good going to explode into your life. I never dream and I can never decide whether this is good or bad. I guess I do dream as they say everyone does, but maybe I just don’t recall them…
Love the “arty bits” especially the purple flowers, they remind me of my son’s wedding, (in New Zealand) Kerry, his new wife, wore a beautiful purple dress that her friend found for her in an op shop for $7-50.

Jack is a great op shop buyer, he is a standard size and finds lots of like new things for a bargain, in fact nearly all his clothes are op shop buys. I can never find anything I either like or can fit into…

I almost never remember the content of my dreams, although I often awake still wrapped in the feeling of them, which sometimes lasts all day, particularly when the feeling is one of stress, fear, or sadness. So, I can’t base any plotlines on them, but I suppose sitting with those feelings for so long is helpful since those are the feelings help drive the conflict in a story.

The feelings from dreams are very weird, Janna so I see what you mean here. It’s almost like the sense of the dream stays with you even though you can’t remember the facts. One day someone might invent a dream catcher that we can replay when we wake up (although that may be a little scary) 😉

Hey Dianne – sorry you have to even go to the hospital – let alone drive so far!
and i love your arty bits! especially the purple flowers and the darker dude and youth title – right on! I have an old class sample that I called dare to be different (made with styrofoam pieces) and if I can find a picture of it I will come back and share it – anyhow, hope you have a nice week and that your hubby’s surgery goes well.
❤

I came back to see if you posted anything in the last few days – no pressure – but of course you know that as you always seem to find your groove – anyhow – I love the two sides of the volcano you refer to – like a knife can do surgery and slice food for nourishment – or it can be a dagger! Ouch- and side note – I was in restaurant work in the 90s and for years had dreams where I was taking care of customers where things were crazy wrong / like one time I was waiting on 800 people in a room and then went shopping with my sister and we were sitting on a curb talking- lol

well it was a crazy dream for sure – and take your time with your posts – in my experience we can prevent burn out and stay for the long haul if we go at a pace for the time and season. so “doodle do” – um I mean, do what you do dudette!

Sorry, I missed another post! I’ll admit I’ve been a bit sidetracked, Dianne. I apologize. I don’t remember very many dreams and I’m sad about that. I think we can learn so much from them and when I do remember them, they’re always pretty off-the-wall, which I like. The mind is a crazy place. I can’t say I’ve dreamed of volcanoes. I see that your hubby’s surgery went well. Yay! So, you must be right about feeling hope from your dream. I love your arty bits!! Very nice.

I was about to ask you about your husband but see in the comments that his operation was a success – that is wonderful to hear. I hope the news from your father in law is also good. Sending healing love your way!

Wishing you peace, Dianne, and more calm moments to focus on the “artsy bits”. The other night I dreamt that my husband packed 5 suitcases for a single night away, and we couldn’t check out of the hotel by the deadline because the more we tried to pack away, the more we found. 😁 I often wake up exhausted from my dreams, haha.

Wow – that dream sounds like you’ve got a load of precious stuff inside you that you keep discovering! My son also wakes up totally exhausted from his dreams and says he’s been SO BUSY all night! lol 😀

Love your ‘Artsy Bits’! Sorry there is some stress at the RUC…I’ll be mentioning you to the ‘Big Guy’ I talk to each night…all will be okay!
Re ‘dreams’, Julie jumped out of bed one night, woke me, and said, “You were attacking me!” In the dream sequence I was fighting off an offensive bully… As Julie stood by the bed I became aware of my flailing while waking and still in the dream… Interpretation: because I love Julie and she’s too sweet a person for me to hold any possible hostility against, I mark it up to the war I’ve forever fought against ‘guilt’ and childhood ’emotional’ conflicts… Julie also tells me I talk occasionally in my dreams… Hey, with a broken-down body, a questionable cell-depleted mind, and a wonderful sleeping pill, who can possibly know? xox ♥

All is great at the RUC now, Billy Ray (your words to the Big Guy helped). Thank you! xxxx

Dreams are such amazing things. Guilt and childhood emotional conflicts have got to be sorted out somewhere and I guess our dreams are the perfect place for this. My father had a fairly traumatic childhood and I remember he had a bad dream one night and whacked my mother in the jaw – she never let him forget it! (but fully understood it was just a dream). You’re so lucky to have a wonderful woman like Julie xxxxx

What a really vivid dream. I think those kind are always telling us something too. Hope it’s a creative explosion. 🙂 When I was little my grandmother asked my cousin what she wanted to be and she said a grocery store cashier. When my grandmother asked me, I replied, “Green.” I’m still trying to make that come true. 😉

Oh my I feel so rude, I haven’t been to visit your blog in ages, and look how massively it’s grown. I will have to ry to read a few posts in one go. (I started at your most recent and jumped back so I could make sure I haven’t missed pictures of your house – it’s still my favourite ever and I think about it a lot.